The McAuley Conference series will take place on Thursday 5th and Friday 6th May in Mary Immaculate College, Limerick. The title of this year’s conference is ‘Ecological Education, Policy and Spirituality: Caring of Our Common Home’.

The conference offers an opportunity to examine some of the key issues raised by Pope Francis in his encyclical letter, Laudato Si’, with a special focus on policy and best practice. Pope Francis’ encyclical letter Laudato Si’, on care for our common home, was published on 18 June 2015. In his encyclical Pope Francis posed the question:”What kind of a world do we want to leave to those who come after us, to children who are now growing up?”

The conference will take an interdisciplinary approach to the Pope’s encyclical letter, drawing on the expertise of environmental scientists, philosophers, theologians, teachers, policy makers and practitioners. Key speakers at the event include Rev Professor Eamonn Conway, Department of Theology and Religious Studies, Mary Immaculate College; Mr Éamonn Meehan, Director of Trócaire, the overseas aid agency of the Catholic Church in Ireland; and Dr Cara Augustenborg, Chairperson of Friends of the Earth Ireland.

The conference will be of particular interest to those who work in the areas of education, whether in primary, secondary, tertiary, continuing professional development or further education contexts, as well as those concerned about the environment – natural and built – and the sustainability of our natural resources.

The Venerable Catherine McAuley was an Irish nun, who founded the Sisters of Mercy in 1831, vowing to serve those who suffered from poverty, sickness and lack of education. The Sisters of Mercy now hold over 2000 members and are present in nine countries around the world.